Thornhill, Ontario — The CAA confession booth is officially open as a recent survey from CAA South Central Ontario indicates that 55 percent of Canadian drivers admit to driving unsafely on occasion, according to a press release from Thursday.
In addition, 95 percent of respondents were brave enough to report that they had witnessed dangerous driving habits among other motorists, namely; speeding, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes and aggressive driving.
The survey uncovered that about 24 percent of respondents were not aware that some of the dangerous driving habits that they practice could qualify as stunt driving.
“Many motorists think stunt driving is just a combination of excessive speeding and doing reckless tricks, but it also includes aggressive behaviours such as road rage and weaving through traffic,” said Raymond Chan, manager of government relations at CAA SCO.
“These reckless actions behind the wheel can have serious consequences and should never occur on our roads, especially in residential areas and community safety zones.”
As of July 1, increased stunt driving penalties have been implemented in Ontario under the Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act. Drivers will now face longer vehicle impoundments and may be charged with stunt driving when traveling in excess of 40km/h on roads where the posted speed limit is under 80km/h. Those who drive 50km/h or more over the posted speed on roads where the speed limit is 80km/h or more, can result in stunt driving charges.
Further penalties are expected to come into effect in Fall 2021, including longer licence suspensions and new escalating sanctions for repeat offenders.
“When you engage in stunt driving, it could cost you your driver’s licence, your car, and most importantly, your life or the lives of others,” said Chan.
“As we continue to see increased pedestrian and cycling traffic during the summer months, our hope is that tougher penalties will curb driver’s impulse to drive dangerously and help contribute to safer roads for everyone.”
